Class History

Developed during WWII by Roy McCullough and R.A. Violette on Naples Island in Long Beach, California, the Naples Sabot has stood the test of time. First raced by adults in Alamitos Bay (where it often doubled as a tender), it wasn’t long before this 8-foot pram, with its flat front, leeboard, and simple cat rig caught the eye of junior sailors who made it their own. Sixty years later, the Naples Sabot is still the primary dinghy used to teach young Southern Californians how to sail.

Today, the Naples Sabot has an ageless appeal, with kids, teens, moms, dads, and grandmas and grandpas racing this maneuverable one-design. Junior competitors are separated into divisions according to ability and experience, while senior racers are divided according to age—except for the Clydesdale division which has a weight minimum…of 220 pounds!

Boat Specifications

Naples Sabot

Vang

The 4:1 vang uses a combination of the lightest blocks Harken has ever built. The double-ended vang leads aft through a pair of 29 mm T2 blocks at the mast partners. The 2146 29 mm T2 easily ties or splices onto control lines which lead to a pair of 470 Micro cams with X-Treme Angle Fairleads. You can ease and cleat the vang while sitting on the rail without looking at the cleat.

Mainsheet Ratchet

The mainsheet is the Sabot’s throttle and must stand up to the constant trimming needed to get this dinghy moving. The 57 mm Carbo ratchet fits the bill. Light, strong, and grippy, the ratchet can easily be switched to free-spinning mode—even with a gloved hand!